Casa Heliconia, Kaleliya [Sri Lanka]

Casa Heliconia is an intimate hideaway hotel near Colombo airport with unique and stylish pavilions in rural Sri Lanka. Located on the way to the Cultural Triangle and Kandy, this hotel is the perfect spot to relax and unwind on your way to or from the airport, which is 25km away.

Accommodation

Accommodation comprises two bedrooms based in stylized pavilions, situated in different parts of the grounds, both with access to the sitting room and pool pavilions.

Temple Angkor: Situated in direct view of the adjoining Buddhist temple with its pristine white stupa, the Temple Angkor chalet takes inspiration from the jungle temples of Cambodia. The bedroom opens on both ends to a verandah and the gardens beyond. The dining area at the rear of this chalet opens out to a courtyard with a typical Sri Lankan village kitchen.

Pagoda Gold: This chalet is slightly smaller and located closer to the pool pavilion. The chalet consists of a bedroom that opens out to a spacious open sided terrace immersed in nature. The bedroom is furnished with a king-size bed and the terrace has a dining table, planter’s chairs for relaxing, and a bar area.

Dining

Most of the food at Casa Heliconia is Sri Lankan inspired and you can discover that there is more to Sri Lankan cuisine than just rice and curry. The focus of food is on local and the fresh ingredients. Breakfast includes blends of fruit juices and fruit platters according to the season, eggs almost anyhow, and some exiting Sri Lankan start to the day, all with a selection of Sri Lanka’s renowned teas, or coffee. Lunches include a selection of light dishes, salads and sharing platters. Dinner is typically Sri Lankan fare, which might include seafood, meat, vegetarian or even fruit curries served with a selection of Desserts which are always produced from local fruits and interesting sweet delicacies.

Experiences

Go bird watching in the gardens covered with fruit trees and flowering plants. Explore the rural village of Kaleliya with its village homes, market place, and the Buddhist temple just next door. En route, stop by a wayside shop for a drink of king coconut or a slice of pineapple. Visit the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage where the island’s abandoned or orphaned wild elephants are protected. After visiting the elephant orphanage, stop by at the recycled elephant dung paper manufacturing project called Maximus located just down the road. About 2.5 hours away is Kandy where you can visit the Temple of the Tooth where a sacred tooth relic of the Lord Buddha is enshrined since 4th Century AD.